Fuel cell system, fuel cell, and hydrogen gas supplying tank

Abstract

A shut valve for a hydrogen occluding alloy tank is integrated into a body of the hydrogen occluding alloy tank. Shut valves for a fuel cell are also integrated into a body of the fuel cell. There is no flow passage for communication between the shut valves and the body of the fuel cell. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which hydrogen gas continues to flow out of the flow passage for communication between the shut valves and the body of the fuel cell despite closure of the valves in response to an inconvenience arising in the flow passage. Even in case of emergency, flow of hydrogen gas can be stopped completely.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fuel cell system comprising: 
 a hydrogen gas supplying portion for supplying hydrogen gas;    a fuel cell which generates electric power by being supplied with the hydrogen gas delivered from the hydrogen gas supplying portion and which exhausts the remaining hydrogen gas;    a first flow passage through which a delivery port of the hydrogen gas supplying portion and a supply port of the fuel cell communicate with each other and through which the hydrogen gas delivered from the hydrogen gas supplying portion flows to be supplied to the fuel cell;    a second flow passage which leads to an exhaust port of the fuel cell and through which the hydrogen gas exhausted from the fuel cell flows; and    a valve which is provided in at least one of the supply port and the exhaust port of the fuel cell, which can allow or stop flow of the hydrogen gas by being opened or closed, and which is integrated into a body of the fuel cell.    
     
     
         2 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is built into the fuel cell.  
     
     
         3 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is directly mounted to the fuel cell on its outer side.  
     
     
         4 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is connected to the fuel cell without interposing a flow passage member through which the hydrogen gas flows.  
     
     
         5 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is built into the hydrogen gas supplying portion.  
     
     
         6 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is directly mounted to the hydrogen gas supplying portion on its outer side.  
     
     
         7 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is connected to the hydrogen gas supplying portion without interposing a flow passage member through which the hydrogen gas flows.  
     
     
         8 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen gas supplying portion is a hydrogen occluding metal tank having a hydrogen gas storing alloy capable of occluding and discharging hydrogen gas.  
     
     
         9 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen gas supplying portion is a high-pressure hydrogen gas tank in which hydrogen gas is accumulated.  
     
     
         10 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second flow passage is connected to the first flow passage.  
     
     
         11 . A fuel cell system comprising: 
 a hydrogen gas supplying portion for supplying hydrogen gas;    a fuel cell which generates electric power by being supplied with the hydrogen gas delivered from the hydrogen gas supplying portion;    a flow passage through which a discharge port of the hydrogen gas supplying portion and a supply port of the fuel cell communicate with each other and through which the hydrogen gas discharged from the hydrogen gas supplying portion flows to be supplied to the fuel cell; and    a valve which is provided in the discharge port of the hydrogen gas supplying portion, which can allow or stop gas flow by being opened or closed, and which is integrated into a body of the hydrogen gas supplying portion.    
     
     
         12 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve is built into the fuel cell.  
     
     
         13 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve is directly mounted to the fuel cell on its outer side.  
     
     
         14 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve is connected to the fuel cell without interposing a flow passage member through which the hydrogen gas flows.  
     
     
         15 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve is built into the hydrogen gas supplying portion.  
     
     
         16 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve is directly mounted to the hydrogen gas supplying portion on its outer side.  
     
     
         17 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve is connected to the hydrogen gas supplying portion without interposing a flow passage member through which the hydrogen gas flows.  
     
     
         18 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 11 , wherein the hydrogen gas supplying portion is a hydrogen occluding metal tank having a hydrogen gas storing alloy capable of occluding and discharging hydrogen gas.  
     
     
         19 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 11 , wherein the hydrogen gas supplying portion is a high-pressure hydrogen gas tank in which hydrogen gas is accumulated.  
     
     
         20 . A fuel cell which generates electric power by being supplied with hydrogen gas via a supply port and which exhausts the remaining hydrogen gas via an exhaust port, comprising: 
 a valve which is provided in at least one of the supply port and the exhaust port, which can allow or stop gas flow by being opened or closed, and which is integrated into a body of the fuel cell.    
     
     
         21 . The fuel cell according to  claim 20 , wherein the valve is built into the fuel cell.  
     
     
         22 . The fuel cell according to  claim 20 , wherein the valve is directly mounted to the fuel cell on its outer side.  
     
     
         23 . The fuel cell according to  claim 20 , wherein the valve is connected to the fuel cell without interposing a flow passage member through which the hydrogen gas flows.  
     
     
         24 . A hydrogen gas supplying portion comprising: a valve which is provided in a discharge port for discharging the hydrogen gas, which can allow or stop gas flow by being opened or closed, and which is integrated into a body of the hydrogen gas supplying portion.  
     
     
         25 . The hydrogen gas supplying portion according to  claim 24 , wherein the valve is built into the hydrogen gas supplying portion.  
     
     
         26 . The hydrogen gas supplying portion according to  claim 25 , wherein the valve is directly mounted to the hydrogen gas supplying portion on its outer side.  
     
     
         27 . The hydrogen gas supplying portion according to  claim 25 , wherein the valve is connected to the hydrogen gas supplying portion without interposing a flow passage member through which the hydrogen gas flows.  
     
     
         28 . The hydrogen gas supplying portion according to  claim 25 , wherein the hydrogen gas supplying portion is a hydrogen occluding metal tank having a hydrogen gas storing alloy capable of occluding and discharging hydrogen gas.  
     
     
         29 . The hydrogen gas supplying portion according to  claim 25 , wherein the hydrogen gas supplying portion is a high-pressure hydrogen gas tank in which hydrogen gas is accumulated.